Giants Hold Off Stars For 5-4 Victory

Posted on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 at 11:08 pm

The short benched Stena Line Belfast Giants held off a resurgent Dundee Stars to claim a 5-4 victory and a well earned 2 points.

The Giants got on the board at 6.43 of the 1st period as make shift forward Graeme Walton netted his first goal of the season, and shortly after the heavens opened with soft toys as the Giants anual Christmas teddy bear toss was underway.

A Giants thank you to all our fans who contributed to this fantastic cause. Later this week the Giants players will deliver the toys to the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children and the Ulster Hospital Children’s Ward.

When the ice was cleared it was back to business and the Giants picked up where they left off as Brock McBride tipped home a shot from Jeff Mason to double the home teams advantage before the 10 minute mark.

Minutes later the Stars pulled one back as Chris Zarb was on hand to tap home into the gaping net as he latched on to a kind bounce off the end boards from a wayward shot to make it 2-1. Almost instantaneously however the Giants restored their 2 goal lead as Jon Pelle smashed home a one time slapshot from between the circles on a feed from McBride to make it 3-1 going into the first intermission.

Mid way through the 2nd the Stars ran in to penalty trouble which the Giants happily capitalised on. With Kronkle sitting 2 minutes for high sticking captain Jeremy Rebek ripped a slapshot from the blue line past Whitley to make it 4-1.

In the final 30 minutes the Stars looked livelier and started to ask questions of the tiring Giants players. Stephen Murphy made an outstanding save from point blank range denying John Dolan but the rebound was tucked away by Jeff Hutchins to give the Stars hope.

In the 3rd period the Stars continued to pile on the pressure and at 43.14 Jarrett Kronkle made it 4-3 as he managed to get a shot off as he was falling to the ice that rang off the goal post before trickling past Murphy to make it a one goal game.

In an attempt to tie things up Dundee threw everything at the Giants and left themselves vulnerable defensively as Jon Pelle sneaked behing the high pressing Stars defensemen to give himself a breakaway opportunity which he converted with a top corner wrist shot beating Whiltey high on his glove side.

Despite this setback the Stars comeback continued. With Craig Peacock in the penalty box and Whitley pulled for the extra skater, Kronkle netted his second of the game to make it 5-4 at 18.47.

With just over a minute remaining in regulation the Giants took no chances and kept everyone back, blocking shooting lanes and limiting the Stars chances to hold on for a well deserved 2 points.